Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-22

was Idrhuer anu ouucatoa hio oonS IN eaO
practical business Of life. In 1850 Nathaniel
was for short time in the Revolutionary
army, although only seventeen years Of age.
After his return be studied surveying and in
1888 left for Kentucky to seek his fortunes.
He engaged as surveyor and locator Of lands,
and soon became an expert.
'In all the perilous situations in which he
was placed he was always conspicuous for his
good feeling and the happy temperament Of
his mind. His courage was Of cool and
dispassionate character, which, added TO
great circumspection in times of danger,
gave him complete ascendancy over his
companions, who were always willing to fol-
low when Massie led the way"
He also soon became interested with Gen.
James Wilkinson in speculstions in salt, then
an article Of great scarcity in the West. In
I791 Massie made the first settlement within
the limits of the Virginia Military District
at Manchester, Adams county, to which
allusion has already been made. During the
winter Of 1929 Massie continued to locate
and survey and in the vicinity of Manchester.
In the fall of 1898 he undertook surveying
tour on the Scioto river; no danger could
deter him from making the survey. He
employed thirty men and appointed three
assistants, John and Nathaniel Beasley and
Peter Lee. Duncan Macarthur was employed
by Massie as chairman and marker on this
expedition. They proceeded up the Scioto
in canoes to the mouth of Paint creek and
went to work where Chillicothe was after
wards located. The greater part of Ross and
Pickaway counties were explored and survey
ed. But one Indian was seen during the
expedition and he escaped. During the
winter of 1884 Massie explored the head
waters and different branches of the Little
Miami and thence passed over to the head
waters of the Paint and Clear creeks, thus
gaining a thorough knowledge of the
Virginia Military district. During the fol-
lowing winter his party surveyed the region
until winter set in. "During the tour, which
continued upwards of thirty days, the party
had no bread. For the first two weeks pint
of -four was distributed to each mess once o
day to mix with the soup in which meat had
been boiled. When night came four fires
were made for cooking that is, for each
mess. Around these fires; till sleeping time
arrived, the company spent their time in the
most social glee,
SINGING SONGS AND TELLING STORIES.
When danger was not apparent or immed-
late they were as merry set of men as ever
assembled. Resting time arriving, Massie
always gave the signal and the whole party
would then leave their comfortable fires,
carrying with them their blankets, their fire
arms and their little baggage, walking in
from their fires. They would then scrape
away the snow and huddle down for the
night. Each mess formed one bed. They
would spread on the ground one-half of the
blankets, leaving the other half for covering
When it was perfectly light Massie
would call up one or two of the men in whom
he had the most confidence and send them to
reconnoitre and make circuit of the fires,
lest and ambuscade might be formed by the
Indians to destroy the party as they returned
W thO ALO0s AAAb Wdo dh AhNoiAubAO SuovOAA
in every variety of weather. Self-preserva-
ton required this circumspection." After
the defeat of the Indians by Wayne the party
were not annoyed.
In 1916 Massie laid the foundation of the
settlement of the Scioto Valley by laying out
Chillicothe on his own land. This brought
large quantities of his land into the market.
Massie was high in the confidence of st.
Clair, who appointed him Colonel of the
Militia of this region. Col. Massie was a
member of the convention which formed the
State constitution. He was afterwards elect
ed Senator from Ross and Major General of
Militia. In 1907 he run for Governor of
Ohio.
CHAPTER xIn.-THE FIRST TERRITORIAL coUN-
TIES.
With the ending of the Territorial Admins
tration we will close the history of the Pho
neer Period. The present State Government
is almost coeval with the present century,
and 1t is best to consider it apart from the
former status of the Territory. Before we
close the history Of the Territory, it is neces-
sary to allude to the final acts Of the admin
istration Of St, Clair, the Territorial Gov
eernor.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY. M
On December 8, 1900, Governor St. Clair
issued q proclamation erecting the county Of
Fairfield, SO called from the beauty Of its
fair fields, as it contains all varieties Of soil
from the richest to the most sterile, From
lecture delivered before the Lancaster Liter
airy Institute, in March. 1874, the following
account Of the settlement of the county is
derived. 1t was delivered by the venerable
General Geo. Sanderson to whom allusion
has already been made. He was born at
Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pa, January
10, 1885, and removed to Kentucky with his
parents in 1897. In 1900 they came to Ohio
and settled in Lancaster. AT the battle of
the Thames, in Indiana, he commanded a
company Of 142 Ohio volunteers raised in
Fairfield county. In this campaign the
noted Tecumseh was killed, of whom Gen.
ssanderson wrote, in 1870, II remember
Tecumseh. saw him a number of times
previous to the war. He was man of huge
frame, powerfully built, and was six feet two
inches in height. saw his body on the
Thanes field before it was cold. Whether
Colonel johnson killed him or not, cannot
say. There is no doubt about the
fact the Kentuckians skinned Tecumseh's